Nasty Smell

Hi and welcome to TCS.

It does sound like an anal gland problem to me as, the way you have described the smell, sounds just like anal gland problems. My Abyssinian girl takes on this same smell sometimes, doesn't scoot or have swellings, but I know it's time for her to have her anal glands expressed at the vet.

Tania... I mentioned the same smell to the vet yesterday and she said that maybe Max was expressing his sacs because he was nervous? She did a quick exam down there and didn't DO much, saying that didn't look full or anything...

Ari, Jamie does that every time he's at the vets' office (and he's got great aim). Cats can do it themselves - I call it "playing skunk".

Originally Posted by jcat

Ari, Jamie does that every time he's at the vets' office (and he's got great aim). Cats can do it themselves - I call it "playing skunk".

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'Skunk' happens to be the word the vet used to describe it! I'm not sure what exactly they're doing though... can someone explain?

Jamie has hated going to the vets' office (two female partners) ever since he was neutered. Once he's in the examination room and on the table, he turns his little backside in the direction of the vet examining him, and squirts a really evil-smelling liquid in her face. He also does this to my best friend's boyfriend when they're visiting, so I believe it's deliberate. With him, it doesn't seem to be fear, but a kind of protest. The smell is absolutely disgusting. Both vets have told me that they've experienced it as a "fear reaction", but the aim was never very good, so Jamie is probably doing it deliberately.

So it's a liquid that he's emitting? Because Max used to smell a bit stinky back there... but the room where he's isolated doesn't smell bad at all, and I've never seen him do anything remotely like that.

He did this thing a couple of times where I would be petting him and he would obviously be enjoying it... he'd have his head facing me and his tail would be upright and it would 'vibrate', for lack of a better word. So I guess it looks like he's spraying, but he's not? I don't get it!

Jamie's tail is upright, and his backside quivers - he really seems to aim!

So when his tail is upright and quivering he's doing something? Squirting out liquid? And what happens if no liquid is squirted out?

Ack, I don't get it!

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...401#post460401

I found that thread which is what I think Max is doing.

As for the nasty smell... who knows. If he is omitting some liquid, my boyfriend and I don't smell it.

Will cats do it when they're annoyed? Sandy does that to my husband sometimes when he does something that agitates her (like nudging her to jump off the counter since she isn't allowed up there). It's only a few drops and it's brownish. Does that sound like "playing skunk"?

Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

So it's a liquid that he's emitting? Because Max used to smell a bit stinky back there... but the room where he's isolated doesn't smell bad at all, and I've never seen him do anything remotely like that.

He did this thing a couple of times where I would be petting him and he would obviously be enjoying it... he'd have his head facing me and his tail would be upright and it would 'vibrate', for lack of a better word. So I guess it looks like he's spraying, but he's not? I don't get it!

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Thats called Quiver Tail and its a sign of either excitement or affection. My Frantic does it, but he doesn't express anything.

Originally Posted by Kellyyfaber

Will cats do it when they're annoyed? Sandy does that to my husband sometimes when he does something that agitates her (like nudging her to jump off the counter since she isn't allowed up there). It's only a few drops and it's brownish. Does that sound like "playing skunk"?

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Yes!

Mr. Underfoot does that rarely, when he gets really excited & happy - if I've been away on a trip & he jumps up to greet me when I return, sometimes some of that fluid will leak out because he's so excited. He just leaks out a few drops - it's a brown fluid with a very strong smell.

I can't imagine being sprayed in the face with that!